Sights set for modest achievements in Syria talks

GENEVA/ AP

Diplomats and negotiators have set their sights on modest achievements in the latest round of Syria talks in Geneva, after a week of discussions centering on setting an agenda for future talks. Meanwhile, fighting continued Thursday near Palmyra in central Syria.
UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura is due for another round of meetings on Thursday marking a week of bilateral talks with the government delegation and opposition groups.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told reporters on Wednesday that “the parties have agreed to … discuss all issues in a parallel way, on several tracks.” After a Damascus request, the issue of terrorism is also on the table, he said.
Russia is a key sponsor of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government in Damascus.
A top Syrian opposition negotiator told journalists overnight Wednesday the UN envoy is “really keen to start a political process on the basis of a clear agenda.”
Nasr al-Hariri said the talks would likely culminate in a closing ceremony Friday and the parties may be back in Geneva for further discussions in a few weeks.
Setting the agenda and strategy to guide discussions has proven difficult as the main conflicting parties dig in their heels over form and semantics.